Seducing Mr. Right

by Rebecca Rose

  “Too bad she wouldn’t join us,” George pouted.

  “No kidding. Our last night here and she flat-out refused. For Christ’s sake, we were here for fourteen days!”

  “Maybe you scared her off.” Jake smiled at his parents. “You’re both kinda ugly.” The truth was, she had said she had some things to take care of. An appointment she couldn’t miss. But in the back of his mind, Jake wondered if it had more to do with not wanting to take a chance on them being more than what they were—a casual relationship.

  Renee shook her head. “She’s been good for you. Look! Your sense of humor is back and there’s a light in your eyes.”

  “I have to agree with your mother, son.”

  “Why does it have to do with her? Why can’t it simply be because I’m happy? Or that I like what I’m doing?” Jake rolled his eyes when his father sat forward. He only did that when he really wanted to prove his point.

  “Jake, I’ve always been proud of you…” his father began.

  When Dave chuckled beside him, Jake sent him a warning glare.

  “… never have you given us trouble. Well, except for the time with the blond girl in tenth grade. That worried us.”

  “What’s your point, Dad?”

  “You’re a jackass,” Renee announced to the whole restaurant. People turned to stare, but she didn’t stop there. “You have something wonderful, right in front of you, and you’re throwing it away by not taking the risk of being in a real, committed relationship. The least you can do is let your brother have a shot at her.”

  “What?” Dave asked.

  “You heard your mother.”

  Dave cleared his throat. “She’s really not my type, Mom. She’s kinda bossy.”

  “She’s not bossy, Dave.” Jake turned and shot his parents a defiant look that mirrored the ones he’d given them as a teenager. “And you two only like her because of who she is.”

  George pointed an aggressive finger at Jake. “Don’t talk to your mother like that. Yes, we respect her as a dancer. She’s a very talented ballerina, but that has nothing to do with it. Waitress! Bring me another beer so I don’t sock my son!”

  Both Dave and Jake hid their faces in their hands. Their parents were never known for tact.

  “What we’re saying is you obviously really like her or you wouldn’t have locked yourselves in the office together a couple of weeks ago. Oh, dear!” Renee turned to her husband. “Do you think that’s why she wouldn’t come out with us tonight? She’s embarrassed about having sex with our son?”

  “We haven’t had sex. And, could you please keep your voices down. I told her where we were going tonight, and she said she might join us.”

  Jake’s thoughts wandered to the outfit she had worn earlier. The slit on the knee-length skirt didn’t look too daring until she sat down at her desk. Then it opened to reveal the thigh highs and garter belt she wore beneath. And the red high heels! He almost swallowed his tongue when he saw them. Yet, every time they were together and the opportunity arose for them to have sex, he backed off. It seemed his mind and body were in a constant fight. He spent many nights pondering why she stuck with him when she obviously didn’t know where they stood as a pair. Heck, he was confusing himself.

  “Well,” George announced, “We’ve already ordered the appetizers and drinks, so I don’t think she’s—”

  And there she was, in pink cashmere with black slacks and heals. Whatever his father began saying evaporated with the sight of her. Unconsciously, Jake stood, and she smiled when she saw him. His night became brighter, his life happier. And it all had to do with the woman walking toward him with the doll-like eyes and the understanding of a saint. It was then that he knew—the world revolved around Sophie Agnés.

  * * *

  What the hell was I thinking? What a total mistake coming here is. And yet, she threw caution to the wind when it came to trying to stop her and Jake’s bond from getting any deeper. She needed to see him, hear his laugh, and simply be in his presence. With frantic worry she tried on every outfit she owned, and then settled for the silky pink sweater she knew Jake liked. He’d commented on it one day and then couldn’t stop touching her for the rest of it.

  “Hi.” She knew she sounded breathless, but he stood there so stunning in a suit jacket and tie.

  He kissed her lightly and whispered, “You’re beautiful.”

  “Don’t manhandle the girl.” George stood and pushed Jake away. “Give me a hug. We’re so glad you made it. Actually, we were just talking about you.”

  Dave rolled his eyes. “Dear God, Dad. Don’t embarrass Jake. I’ll be hearing about it forever.”

  “I was only going to say how this is our last night here and we’d hoped she’d show up.”

  Sophie looked to Jake, who gave her a pitied look. “I’m sorry, I was held up. There were some things I needed to take care of.”

  Renee sat forward when Sophie sat down. “Like what?”

  “Mom,” Jake and Dave warned at the same time.

  “It’s okay, guys. I had some documents to sign.” When Renee opened her mouth, Sophie decided she might as well continue. “I’m selling some property.”

  “Really?” George inquired, “Where?”

  Sophie felt the faint blush come to her cheeks. “France, and here at Nantucket Sound.”

  “No kidding,” Dave said. “Why would you want to sell the one in France?”

  Sophie smiled when Jake gave his brother a light punch for asking the question. “I haven’t been there in years. What’s the sense in keeping it when you don’t see it? Mostly I rent the space out, but I had a tenant that wanted to buy the property. I’m happy to get rid of it.”

  She ordered a beer when the waitress came to take her order. Renee was currently sipping on one, and Sophie always preferred it over wine. Even at her mother’s disapproval of it not being a woman’s drink.

  The night stretched on and the more she talked to Jake’s parents, the more she liked them. There was no artificialness about them. They said what was on their minds and didn’t care if you liked it or not. She found it comforting not to have to walk on eggshells as she did with her parents and their crowd of friends.

  When the meal came, Jake repeatedly asked his father not to talk with a mouth full of food. By the fourth time she couldn’t hold in her laughter anymore.

  “You both remind me of my uncle Rick—or Richard, as my mother likes to call him—and my aunt Estelle. They always made the party fun. I remember as a kid wanting to hang around them. My mother would shoo me away, but I’d always sneak back. To this day she says they influenced me beyond repair.”

  “Really? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. Except, of course, you like my youngest,” Renee joked.

  Jake’s infectious laugh traveled through the restaurant. He swung an arm behind Sophie and pulled her to him in a warmhearted hug. He seemed so relaxed, even in a restaurant with tons of people. She couldn’t help her heart swelling with happiness. He always seemed a little uptight and defensive. But not tonight. This evening he was a man who secretly held her hand under the table and winked at her whenever she squeezed it.

  When the bill came all hands went for it.

  “The company will pick this one up,” Dave announced.

  “I’m treating you, since you complain I never pick up the bill.”

  “Jake,” Renee broadcasted, “it’s not that you don’t pick up the bill, it’s that we want to see you more often when we’re here. You almost never come out with us.”

  “I’ve seen you every day for the last two weeks,” Jake protested.

  “He’s a good son, Renee. Even if he hasn’t swept the beauty beside him off her feet,” George stated.

  “Who says he hasn’t?” Sophie chuckled, and with deft fingers, slipped the bill out from all their hands. “Since I have the bill and have not been able to attend these fun-beyond-belief outings, I’m paying.” She had just opened her purse when George put his hand o
ver hers.

  “I prepaid.” Sophie felt her mouth gape open as Dave, Jake, and Renee started to argue. “I hope next time you’re not a stranger.” George then leaned forward and kissed her cheek, but not before whispering, “You’re good for my son. Thank you.”

  Sophie cleared her throat so as not to start crying. No one had ever made it this clear that she was welcomed into their family. Love bloomed for the couple before her. How could it not? They were wonderfully themselves, and they obviously cared very deeply for their children. She wished she could have the kind of relationship with her own parents that Dave and Jake had with theirs. Her heart broke a little for how things could have been different. There would have been more childhood laughter, sleepovers with friends, fun activities, and meals with parents she could talk to. And right now, she wouldn’t be missing what she might have had if her mother weren’t so controlling and cold.

  “Dad? Are you hitting on my woman?”

  Sophie blushed at Jake’s declaration.

  “No need to worry, son. Your mother is the only woman I’ve ever wanted.” He then leaned over and gave Renee a scandalous kiss.

  Sophie covered her mouth to stop from giggling. “My parents would die if they saw that.”

  Renee smiled. “Then your parents need to live a little.”

  The night had cooled to a bitter chill when they stepped out into the parking lot. They all hugged good-bye, and Sophie wished Renee and George a safe flight back. As Jake walked her to her car, Sophie wanted to ask him to stay the night with her; it was on the tip of her tongue. But when he kissed her brains loose, and Sophie melted in his arms, the only coherent thought that existed was how strong and thoughtful Jake was. How he liked to laugh and tease, but he still let the people he cared for know he wanted to be a part of their lives.

  Admiring his family was easy, and she couldn’t remember having a better time out with people who liked each other so much. Bruce’s parents were as stuffy as hers. Never joking about serious things or raising their voices to get a point across. The rest of Sophie’s old social circle was just as boring and in need of learning how “to live a little,” as Renee put it.

  Sophie was still smiling about dinner when she slid her key in and opened the door to her home. The building had once been an old factory and was now converted to condos. She loved the tall ceilings, the large rooms, and the fact it was all hers. In the doorway there were stairs to go up to her living space, while downstairs her dance studio called to her. She flicked on the lights to look at the open space. At the sight of her ballet shoes Sophie felt compelled to lace them on and begin to dance just for the fun of it. Not because she needed to stretch to keep in form, but for happiness and love. Jake was who she’d been looking for all her life. She’d sensed it from the moment they’d met. Well… when he woke up long enough to talk. Sophie laughed at the memory. Sure he had problems, but who didn’t? They could work on everything together—she’d prove that to him.

  Sophie’s hand reached down to her pointed toe, a graceful ending to her impromptu dance. She followed it up with a squeal of glee.

  * * *

  Dave looked at his brother with disgust. “Why am I dropping you off at your house and not Sophie’s again?”

  “Because I’m not going to invite myself over.”

  “Truth time.” Dave walked up to Jake’s door with him. “And I want a beer.”

  “Scrooge.”

  “Yup. How was it?”

  Jake opened the fridge and handed his brother a beer, “How was what?”

  “You said I’d be the first to know. Remember?”

  Jake downed half his drink and hoped to get drunk enough to not call a cab and knock on Sophie’s door. “I haven’t slept with her.”

  “Nope. But you had other fun.”

  “Dave, you need a woman.”

  “That’s a given. Well?”

  “Mind-blowing. After two years, I can’t believe what I’ve been missing. Mom and Dad being around have made it next to impossible to get my hands on her. I feel like a teenage boy with out-of-control hormones.” Jake finished his bottle and grabbed another.

  “I still don’t see why you don’t just go over there.”

  “Dude, I don’t know. I’m so unsure about all this. If I do that, it brings this thing between us to… to… shit, I’m not sure I want a commitment.”

  “Yeah. You wouldn’t want to ruin the good thing you have going here.” Dave swept a hand motioning to the empty walls in Jake’s kitchen. “Bachelorhood’s been great to you.”

  “Dave.”

  “Yup.”

  “If you’re going to insult me, you can’t drink my beer.”

  “Okay. Then I’m going to go. Have a few more drinks, and when they don’t work with keeping your mind off of her, get your ass over there.” Dave slapped his brother on the back and left.

  Shit! Dave was right. Sophie’s was where he wanted to be. He took his third beer out and started chugging. By the time he finished his fourth, he couldn’t remember why he wasn’t at her house.

  * * *

  She wasn’t sleeping anyway so why bother lying in bed? Her head was aching, so she decided a couple aspirins and the book she never seemed to finish would help push her off to dream land. Sophie looked over at the clock next to her bed. Two a.m. and all was quiet. Maybe that was what was bothering her: the silence.

  Her feet padded softly on the plush carpet in her hallway. She tied her silk robe at the waist as she headed for the kitchen. There was ice cream in the freezer. Chocolate. A spoonful would help fill the void of her empty home.

  Sophie had never truly been lonely before, yet tonight, with the moon sending its silver beams through the numerous windows of her loft, she felt just that—and a longing to be understood. Right now her ex-fiancé was at the hospital having his first child. Of course, Bruce had called her as he was on his way there. He thought she’d want to know. And, why would she? They were through, and she was grateful about it. So what if his bimbo was about to give birth? Sophie actually felt no jealously or anger toward the woman, only pity. Because while Bruce might be faithful right now—and that was very hard to believe—he wouldn’t be much longer. Eventually he would get bored of the baby and its mother. There would be too much responsibility for him to want to stay, and then mother and child would be alone.

  She took the heaping spoon of ice cream with her to the large picture window, which faced the street in front of her home. The street was quiet, except for the taxi dropping some guy off. She nibbled on the dessert, appreciating every spoonful, when the stranger below turned into the streetlight.

  “You have got to be kidding me.” In a rush, Sophie tossed her spoon on the counter and raced down the flight of stairs to the street. The buzzer rang just as she hit the last step. Joy swelled inside of her. Anticipation made her fumble with the locks. She opened the door and found the only person on this earth she wanted to see standing there. “Jake, what are you doing here?”

  “I needed to see you.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb and gave her a little smile, “Can I come in?”

  Sophie leaned against the doorjamb and crossed her arms. “What makes you think I want to let you in?” she joked. Even in the dim of her hall light, Sophie could see the flush creep up his neck.

  “Oh… I don’t know. If you want me to go, I will.” He bit his lower lip and Sophie felt hers twitch.

  “You’re far too cute. A powerhouse of a man with a marshmallow heart. I can’t believe you’d give up so easily. I was only kidding.”

  Jake stepped forward when she fisted the material of his shirt and started to pull him in. For the first time ever, Sophie felt anticipation’s powerful grip. Her breath hitched, her body pulsed and the primal need to be with him, to love him, to share secret moments with him, washed over her. The ache in her heart made her head feel faint and her mind feel giddy. For this wasn’t the beginning of a teenage crush but the sensation of two opposed worlds pulled together wit
h such force that the inevitable collision would be catastrophic to anyone in denial. She couldn’t calm her nerves from prickling in exhilaration.

  “Oh, I wasn’t going to give up that easily,” Jake told her. His stare transfixed Sophie as he stepped into the front entryway then kicked the door shut behind him.

  “You’ve been drinking.” Her voice shook, not from fear, but from her racing heart and sexually charged body.

  “Not as much as you think.” He pinned her against the wall, grasped her ass and hiked her up so she’d wrap her legs around his waist. “Four beers to be exact, and only to convince myself not to come here.”

  “I want you, too, Jake. Please.” At her pleading, he grasped the silk rope and nightie underneath, then tore. She cried out as Jake’s mouth and teeth assaulted her breasts.

  “Good God, you’re built.”

  “I’m all yours.” Fisting her hair in his hands, he brought his mouth to hers. Their bodies heated the small entryway. Jake made a move for the stairs.

  “Up, right?”

  “Yeah. Down the hall, bedroom on the left.” She pulled his shirt over his head then began to journey over his chest with her mouth. When she came to one of his nipples, Sophie bit. His body reacted by tensing under her lips.

  “Fuck it, honey. We’re not going to make it.”

  He laid her on the stairs not far up from the ground floor. His mouth scorched her, his hands possessed her, and his greed seemed unquenchable. He tore the rest of her nightclothes open. Then in one swift move, pulled her panties off. She felt the searing kisses start at her ankle and hastily move their way up.

  “I just want to devour you, Sophie. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” His hands moved to her legs then opened them so he could taste her. His tongue and fingers worked her body to a fury, and she gripped the stairs to keep from bucking off.

  “You taste incredible.”

  His hot breath tickled her small thatch of hair. She wanted to tell him how wonderful he made her feel, that she needed as much as he wanted. His tongue shot inside of her; his thumb rubbed her swollen numb. She erupted. And before Sophie recovered, Jake pushed inside of her.